Salary cut at heart of Bok's departure

REACTION: The lure of the Springbok captaincy is not the only reason behind the decision of veteran Springbok Duane Vermeulen's to return to South Africa.

Toulon President Mourad Boudjellal on Wednesday confirmed Vermeulen will leave the French club at the end of the season and return to the Stormers.

All Black Jerome Kaino has been flagged as his replacement.

"Vermeulen is leaving," said the controversial Boudjellal, who is currently being investigated by European rugby authorities over comments he made at the weekend about Irish and Welsh administrators at European Professional Club Rugby.

"He [Vermeulen] will be replaced by an international level player that we will announce in the next 48 hours.

"Duane is leaving because he wants to prepare for the World Cup [in Japan in 2019]."

However, the Frenchman revealed that the lure of the Bok captaincy is not the only reason for Vermeulen's departure.

"We had offered him a contract that corresponded to the amount of time he works," he said.

Boudjellal suggested that meant the French Top 14 side had offered Vermeulen a pay cut.

"We wouldn't have had him for half the year - over 24 months he would have been at the club for 11 months.

"We made him a great offer but he wants to go home and his national team coach is relying on him."